Thursday, January 31, 2008

Potent Quotables

"Government governs best when it governs least -- and stays out of the impossible task of legislating morality. But legislating someone's version of morality is exactly what we do by perpetuating discrimination against gays.

"When you get down to it, no American able to serve should be allowed, much less given an excuse, not to serve his or her country. We need all our talent." -- Former Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona on the ban on gays in the military.

(Thanks, Marc!)

5 comments:

H. Alan Scott said...

i need to pick up a bio on him or something, i've been fascinated by him ever since i read in hillary clinton's bio that she was a "goldwater girl."

Homer said...

Goldwater was as homophobic as his fellow Republicans. It was only after it affected him personally- his grandson and a niece, that he changed his mind. I was at Arizona State University before that happened and well remember his anti-gay comments he gave during a talk.

KJ said...

So Homer, no one is allowed to change their heart or mind? I hope that I'm not judged by the fact that I was once a closeted, evangelical, homophobic, gay boy.

Anonymous said...

(You're welcome, Kenneth.) I've decided that I love nobody more than straight guys who are sane and secure enough to be open-minded about gay guys. Guys like Barry Goldwater, Ben Cohen and now, Colin Farrell. (Yum. Colin and Ben. Together at last.) We should have a special float for them in the Gay Pride parade. Who else should be on that float? Any nominees?

Joey said...

"We need all our talent" says it all, not only about the military but about allowing same-sex preference folk to be involved in every aspect of society. Notice how the dumpiest countries on earth are the most homicidal toward homosexuals? Maybe they're dumps because they're killing off their greatest talent. If Iran had been as homophobic as it is now throughout their (more rich and varied) history, they'd have killed off the great Hafiz, and Saadi, and..